Neutron Stars: Magnetic equilibria in the crust and timing noise from magnetospheric activity
Kostas Gourgouliatos
McGill University


The evolution of the magnetic field in crusts of Neutron Stars is dominated by the Hall effect. I will discuss equilibria solutions for the structure of the magnetic field in the crusts which are found analytically and numerically and their implications for the flow of the crustal electron fluid. In particular dipole fields should be supported by a uniformly rotating electron fluid. Although these solutions bear some similarities to stellar MHD equilibria, there are some significant differences that can trigger magnetic activity, if one assumes that a neutron star is born in MHD equilibrium. Complementary to that, I will discuss the observed timing noise in high magnetic field pulsars and magnetars and I will discuss a possible explanation through the variation of the moment of inertia of the magnetosphere.

Date: Thursday, 28 February 2013
Time: 11:30
Where: Université de Montréal
  Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, local D-460
Contact: David Lafrenière